Musical Style: Melodic Metal / Hard Rock	Produced By: David Zaffiro
Record Label: Image	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2019	Artist Website:
Tracks: 10	Rating: 80%
Running Time: 43:01

Better late than never.  Thirty years after releasing its David Zaffiro produced Image Records full-length debut Thunder From The Mountain, Sioux Falls, South Dakota based Zion returns with a re-mixed and re-mastered version to the album appropriately re-titled Thunder From The Mountain 2.0.  Further upgrades come in the form of an enhanced version to the ‘dragon assaulting a mountain’ cover art (crediting the work of Robert Wilson at Death Is Gain) and a previously unreleased bonus track in “The Big Fall” (initially intended for inclusion on the original release but cut due to budget and time constraints).  The project was actually first announced in 2009 (by drummer Tommy Bozung at the Christian Metal Realm) after Image acquired the 2-inch master tapes from Zaffiro, but after ‘suffering many delays and problems along the way to completion’ (as taken from the groups press material) it did not see official release until May of 2019 (independently by the band).  

I always indentified with Zion as another of what ended up a literal slew of ‘white metal’ bands to follow in the wake of the commercial success of Stryper.  That, however, might not be entirely accurate in light of how Zion pre-dates the yellow and black decked out Orange County, California four-piece when factoring its origin dates to 1981 when founded by vocalist and guitarist Rex Scott.  With guitarist Dave Moore first to join and later followed by Bozung, Zion entered the studio to record its debut four song demo under the similar but abbreviated title Thunder From The Mount, which is synonymous for ‘God’s Holy Mountain’ or more specifically ‘the place where God and His people reside’.  Full-length custom cassette Rock For Eternity to follow in 1984 helped pave the way for the deal with Image.

Musically, it would not be out of line to describe Zion as staying true to the times at hand with a sound that walks a fine line between commercial melodic metal and straightforward hard rock, with Scott playing no small role in this regard with a complementary at times gritty and raspy and others soaring vocal style.  Lone misgiving is that I always felt the Zaffiro production - while far from bad - steeped Thunder From The Mountain with a bit too much polish to the extent of overriding the group’s natural raw energy.  This, however, rectifies with the ‘Version 2.0’ re-mix and re-mastering, which siphons away a good measure of the polish and replaces it with a better befitting metal sheen to realize the more striking guitar sound and amplified bass presence.  Listening to both versions alongside and the difference is striking, particularly from an enhanced low-end standpoint.

Despite improved cover art, the “Version 2.0’ two-panel digi-pak packaging leaves somewhat desired.  Backside to the digi-pak reveals the track listing in a font that can be challenging to read while liner notes on the inside are faint as well (both tend to bleed into the orange and red background).  Likewise, band photos - both current and vintage - are too small to stand on their own.  The disc itself is a CD-R.  No mini booklet with lyrics, liner notes, etc.

 

Album opens to what in my opinion are three of its stronger tracks, starting with the commercial metal to “Who Pulls The Strings”.  The song represents a joining of the light and heavy, with the buffeting bass driven verses - to feature biting guitars to taste - playing up the latter and the catchy refrain - of which airy backing vocals adorn - embodying the former.  Final two minutes are instrumental as added plunging bass and hard charging rhythm guitars lead the way.  Lyrics leave little doubt as to the group’s faith:

You think you’re free but these chains you cannot see
They're wrapped tight on you and they never let you be
Sins desire will take you down to the fire
But God's the only one who can stop the twisted liar

Who pulls the strings-
Who makes you do those things?

“Kick In The Gates” separates as one of the era’s classic cuts.  It reflects the Zion bare bones hard rocking side, as the clamorous guitars to take a lead opening role form an alliance with Scott’s grainy vocal qualities to make a surpassing statement (somewhat akin to a more accessible Rez Band).  Further impressing are the near mesmerizing guitar harmonies to carry the instrumental moments.  Lyric snippet:

Two thousand years ago, a man did walk
He was sent into this world to die, He did more than talk
With words so powerful that would knock you down
He would turn the heads of everyone right around

He'd say I've got a message to tell
That's gonna kick in the gates

“Is It A Crime” hearkens back to commercial territory.  It maintains a reticent form from the start, fluidly drifting its verse sections to reserved guitar and bass until impetus builds for the guitars to cut in that bear the momentous ‘Is it a crime, to feel the way I feel?’ refrain to refuse to leave with repeat play.  So much energy and emotion- this is Zion at its prime best.  Lyric snippet:

I want to remind you that your love is everything to me
I look to talk to you
But the words just won't come out
If I push real hard they come right back at me
Alone in my room they bounce right off the walls
My words sink into an endless sea

Everything else is quite good, including ballad “Help Me”.  Starting to acoustic guitar and keyboards (of an almost medieval quality), it mildly drifts until impetus peaks for the bluesy rhythm guitars to abruptly cut in that drive things ahead in setting a dogged tone.  Yet, it is not all staunch and unswerving in that acoustic guitar and keyboards make periodic cameo appearances.  Simple but effective is the feel at hand.

I've tried my best to do what is right
I only want your love in my life
So I call out to you and I try to get near
But silence is all that I hear

Help me, to wait
Help me, before it's too late

“Thrillseeker” is another showstopper.  This one returns to a high-energy form in rumbling from the get go, briefly hesitating for its reserved opening verses (underpinned by lively bass) until force explodes for a refrain to speak of the more forthright (interwoven with vigorous vocal melodies).  A ton of bluesy heart and soul exudes in the process.  Lyric snippet:

Caught in a web of deceit
Another camera shot below the waist
Another empty soul
It never satisfies, it's all a lie
Puts you out of control
It's on the TV now it's in your mind

Thrillseeker, falling in deeper and deeper

“Sold You A Lie” approaches from a mid-tempo melodic hard rock slant.  It interweaves heavy and driving moments furrowed by bulky rhythm guitars and others to indicate a lighter and airy presence in reaching for a borderline AOR basis.  Interestingly, the passage at the mid-point to slow to a standstill for spoken word delivery gives way to a jazzy instrumental stretch.  In the end, a smoother touch to the gritty Zion sound.  Lyric snippet”

Your boyfriend told you it would be alright
And all your friends are doin' it in the dark of the night
They say you're gonna like the way it makes you feel
But how do you deal with the guilt and pain that's so real?

Somebody sold you a lie
Will you listen to this or will you be surprised?

Not so hard rock anthem “Roll The Rock”, which aligns with the albums heaviest in the form of its churning guitar penchant and unfaltering momentum of an out of control freight train capacity.  Refrain to repeat songs title in exacting fashion - as Bozung’s cascading drums escalate the low end - rates with my Thunder From The Mountain favorites.  I can see this being a concert staple.  Lyric snippet:

He will give you His light with power and might
And that's just a start
People seeking a new direction
What they need is a resurrection
Just as His Son who laid dead in the grave
God: "I rolled the rock away"

“He Loves You” comes across as an up-tempo groove rocker.  Fittingly, an incandescent bass line carries it front to back in helping to elevate melody in addition to also quite the becoming boogie flavored ardor- all the while keyboards make the periodic accenting appearance.  I particularly enjoy the passage at the halfway point to slow to a standstill for Scott’s spoken word delivery over an open bass line.  Lyric snippet:

I'm a follower, old ways denied
Took up the cross, I'm crucified
I'm now a vessel where Jesus Lives
There's nothin' to lose
I had nothing to give
Less of me the key to my release
Surrender this life to you
Let Your Glory increase

Due to it missing from the master tapes, “Less Of Me” was re-mastered only and not re-mixed.  It proves a solid piece, up-tempo in terms of its propulsive riff focus (for its hulking verses) but also lightly tinctured in adorned by glossy vocal melodies (as found in the silky refrain).  Lone misgiving, however, is that without the benefit to the remix, “Less Of me” reveals production shortcomings to the original as found in a glossy overcoat and lack of low-end presence, when placed alongside ‘Version 2.0’ either way.  Lyric snippet:

But Jesus can save you
He's the only One who can bring you through
So don't ride the Highway to Hell
You really weren't made to

Your gift is Eternal Life, Give it up to Jesus
He paid the ultimate price
No sin is too heavy for Jesus to take away
Give it up to Him right now, He will change your life

“The Big Fall” is a monster cut deserving to rank alongside albums finest (crime of the century it was not included on the original release).  A full six minutes, it begins to a jam-based minute long instrumental opening prior to segueing to its pensive bass underpinned verse sections prior to momentum exploding for nothing less a larger than life refrain brimming with catchy arena rock like hooks.  A second instrumental run at the mid-point comes across in the form of a pyrotechnical guitar heroes-delight.  The Brian Johnson like sass and swagger in which Scott adds to his vocal performance provides foreshadowing for his post Zion project X Sinner.

The remix and re-mastering to Thunder From The Mountain 2.0 provides a metal sheen to allow it to heads and shoulders above the more polished David Zaffiro produced rendering.  I encourage the reader to pick up a copy even if owning the original for this very reason.  That said, packaging could have been improved upon, at least in comparison to the quality produced by re-issue labels such as Roxx Records, Girder Music and Retroactive Records.  For such reason I would to see Zion re-issue its original demo material - the Thunder From The Mount and Rock For Eternity tapes - but get it done correctly by working with the aforementioned instead.  Best option, of course, would be for Zion to reform and record a much-needed follow up to Thunder From The Mountain.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Who Pulls The Strings” (4:48), “Kick In The Gates” (3:18), “Is It A Crime” (5:27), “Help Me” (3:12), “Thrillseeker” (3:18), “Sold You A Lie” (4:31), “Roll The Rock” (4:04), “He Loves You” (3:52), “The Big Fall” (5:58), “Less Of Me” (4:34)

Musicians
Rex Scott - Lead Vocals & Guitars
David Moore - Guitars
Jeff Johnson - Bass
Tommy Bozung - Drums